lead with languages

ALEXANDRIA, VA—In a world where U.S. companies contend in a hypercompetitive global marketplace, where our nation is diplomatically and militarily engaged across the globe, and where tackling complex global challenges requires a greater level of international understanding and cooperation, the ability to communicate in different languages and understand other cultures has never been more vital. Yet, fewer than 10 percent of Americans speak a second language, while barely one-fifth of K-12 students and a mere 8 percent of college students study a second language.